Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-04-21

was an unbroken forest for many miles in
extent, where roamed the moose, the deer,
the bear and the wolf, he began snuting
! the air and said to Dan 1T seems to me
! | smell moose" whereupon Dan too
/ began to snuff the air and said; Yes,
| Phin. too smell moose; come let's go and
hunt them" SO Dan went into his house
and said to his good wife-who, by the
I way, was indeed noble woman real
Mother in lsrael"-"Wc are going on
moose hunt, and as it is uncertain when
shall be at home again, | would like to
have you put up something for me to eat.
SO his knapsack was soon filed, and with
his gun, axe, knife, Undertook. flint and
steel, they started and called on their way
at Phins house, where he too was sup
Piled with what was needful for their ex-
pediton. Each having an axe and tin
! trumpet strapped to their back they were
. soon off; and as it was in the morning.
they had the most of the day before them.
They passed up the cast side of the
mountain and proceeded northward for a
( mile or more. when they discovered evil
dent signs such as moose hunters so well
understand, that there were moose not far
from them. and felt well assured that
they were on their trail.
Now | am not moose hunter and
neither do know much from experience
about hunting deer, yet from observation
and from what | have heard hunters say,
| know these animals. like good officer
in an army, in case they should he too
hard pushed To maintain their position
have chance for retreat well consid
cred and maturely planned out in advance
of necessity. SO these animals have
| their crossing places well understood and
which good hunter will soon find out and
from experience be well assured
So 1t was arranged that Phin should
cautiously remain on the trail, while Dan
by a circuitous route should advance and
lay in ambush at q crossing plaCr. where
both moose and deer often went when
they changed their locality from north Of
the mountain and should pass over the low
always known aS Beech Hill" or a.
Hincklcy's Ridge" as nearly or quite all
of the Ilinckley families who first came %
this town. settled on that ridge of land.
If Dan should hear Phin> trumpet he
would know the moose was routed and
was coming. He was secrctcd on the
ground. close to the butt of a large tree.
which has ever been considered the best
place for safety in case of an attack by
moose
1t was then past noon and Dan began to
fear in case the moose had been started
that he had gone some other way, but in
short time he heard the blast of Phn's
trumpet. and with his gun cooked and at
hi> shoulder and with tiuttering heart he
awaited his approach and qnite soon heard
him coming and presently saw II was a
large bull moose lcaping for dear life.
With his wide spreading antlers he was.
indeed dangerous looking animal 70 be
hold But he happened to come quite near
To Dan, and when abreast he fired at him.
After making a few more leaps he fell to
the ground dead when Dan ha>tcned 10
him and with his knife cut his throat, and
Dan at once blew his trumpet with an cX-
ira blast;
But Ihin had heard the well known re
port Of Dams gun and fastening towards
him with all possible speed, they were soon
together After eating a hasty luncheon,
-. Il, 4 h.. noble
animal and before the sun had set the
meat was in quarters and by some withes
hung up on the limbs of the trees.
They were then two miles or more from
OF which there were no roads or even a
foot-path, and the darkness Of night com
ing on. But as they were very persevering
and courageous men they took the best
observation they could and shaped their
course homeward as best they might, not
forgetting as they passed along to spot
some trees a guide TO the meat the next
day. Before bedtime they were safely
with their families. where they found scN-
cral Of their ncighbors waiting for their
return anu a. company lo[ lIcH WINS
during their absence. In the hearts Of all
there were JOY and gladness for their safe
return and for the good luck atten ding
them The joyful tidings were soon all over
the neighborhood, and arrangements were
quickly made to bring the meat out Of the
woods. there being no lack for volunteers.
Two men could carry quarter strapped
to pole, by some wthes, and in the same
manner ten men could bring the whole, III
Guiding the hide and the head. As they
took AN early start, before night it was all
safely at their homes, and invitations were
sent out for all to meet at Dams house the
next day for feast on moose meat, where
general distribution would be and was
made b. W. DARLING.
Bluehill April y, 1887.